CIGNA Offers Hurricane Victims, Employers Counseling, Pharmacy, Claims Support; Announces Donation to American Red Cross

CIGNA Offers Hurricane Victims, Employers Counseling, Pharmacy, Claims Support; Announces Donation to American Red Cross

PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 2, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- CIGNA is offering crisis consultation, behavioral and pharmacy assistance and an expedited claims response to ensure that customers, members and their families as well as others devastated by Hurricane Katrina have access to needed services. Additionally, the company announced a $500,000 donation to the American Red Cross, with a 2:1 company match of employee contributions up to $500,000.

"As a health benefits provider and a business of caring, we are committed to offering our help in this time of overwhelming need," said H. Edward Hanway, CIGNA's chairman and chief executive officer.

As of today, as CIGNA's response continues to develop, disaster assistance includes the following initiatives:

Telephone Help line and Website

CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) has expanded its telephone help line to provide personal assistance and support for all residents of the Gulf Coast communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina. Phone lines are staffed with trained counselors who are available to speak with individuals about how to cope with grief, anxiety, stress or other issues in the aftermath of the disaster. Anyone in the Gulf Coast regions of Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi or Southern Florida can call 888.622.6470. This phone line will be open to the public in these areas 24 hours a day, seven days a week as long as needed. CIGNA coverage is not required to use the telephone help lines.

The CBH website also contains information to help the general public cope with natural disasters: http://apps.cignabehavioral.com/web/basicsite/bulletinBoard/naturalDisasters/n aturalDisasters.jsp

Employer Telephone Consultation

To support employers, CBH is assisting managers to understand how best to help their employees get through the crisis. CBH is hosting one-hour group telephone consultations for managers including a free session open to any manager on Wednesday, Sept. 7 from 2 to 3 p.m. EDT. Managers who wish to participate should call 800.701.9724 (passcode: 804819). If the line is busy, there is an alternate number at 800.214.0745 with passcode 363422.

The phone call will be hosted by master's level clinicians who will provide information that will be useful to managers and companies as they try to assist their employees during this time. An audiotape of the call will be available by calling 888.348.4629 for 30 days. Callers will need to use passcode 804819.

"CIGNA Behavioral Health worked with thousands of people in the aftermath of 9/11, providing services and support that was deeply needed and highly valued," said Keith Dixon, Ph.D., president of CBH. "Personalized assistance can help individuals and companies better cope during times of crises such as this and we welcome and encourage calls to our dedicated phone lines."

Pharmacy Assistance

Through the end of September, CIGNA Pharmacy Management will allow members in affected areas to order refills of their prescription medications early in order to see them through the immediate crisis.

Claim Assistance

Additionally, several medical, life, accident and disability claims requirements have been temporarily suspended for CIGNA members and claimants in Southern Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama to ensure that anyone affected by the hurricane has ready access to necessary services. Members are encouraged to call the phone number on their health care membership cards for further information. Disability claimants can call 800.362.4462. Anyone with a Life or Accident inquiry can call 800.732.9047.

About CIGNA

As a Business of Caring, CIGNA (NYSE:CI) provides employers with benefits programs, expertise and services that improve the health, well-being and productivity of their employees. Serving millions of customers, clients and members in the U.S. and around the globe, CIGNA's operating subsidiaries offer a full portfolio of medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy and vision care benefits; group life, accident and disability insurance, and health care coverages for expatriate employees. Web site: http://www.cigna.com/.

CIGNA Behavioral Health (CBH) provides behavioral care benefit management, EAPs, and work/life programs to consumers through health plans offered by large U.S. employers, national and regional HMOs, Taft-Hartley trusts and disability insurers. CBH, with headquarters in Eden Prairie, Minn., operates five care management centers around the U.S. in support of a national network of more than 41,000 independent psychiatrists, psychologists and clinical social workers and more than 4,000 facilities and clinics. For more information, visit http://www.cignabehavioral.com/.

Source: CIGNA Corporation

Contact: Wendell Potter, +1-215-761-4450, Wendell.Potter@cigna.com, or
Patricia Caballero, +1-201-533-5028, Patricia.Caballero@cigna.com, both of
CIGNA

Web site: http://www.cigna.com/
http://www.cignabehavioral.com/

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/165050.html

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